Concrete mixer



CONCRETE MIXER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 3, 1958 June 14, 1960 B, R. SHINDELDECKER 2,940,739

CONCRETE MIXER Filed sepia. s, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O CONCRETE MIXER Branson R. Shindeldecker, Van Wert, Ohio, assigner of one-half to Harry L. Davies, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Filed Sept. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 758,785

9 Claims. (Cl. 259-160) This invention relates generally to concrete mixers and more particularly to a concrete mixer adapted for mounting on a tractor and to be powered from the powertakeoff thereof.

Large concrete mixers mounted on a truck body and arranged for transit mixing of the concrete are well known in the building trade and are a common sight upon the highway. However, there are numerous instances in small construction jobs where the relatively small quantity of concrete required does not justify the use of conventional transit-mix equipment. This has therefore in the past necessitated the use of small portable concrete mixers, commonly powered by a small gasoline engine. However, while such small mixers are readily transportable from one site to another, they are required to be operated v in a xed location, the yaggregate and concrete was required to be loaded, i.e., charged by hand, and the finished concrete was conventionally deposited in a wheel barrow for transportation to the desired location. To alleviate these difficulties without necessitating the use of the large truck-mounted transit-mix apparatus, it has been proposed to mount a relatively small concrete mixer upon the rear of a tractor to be driven from the power take-off thereof. While such arrangements have greatly facilitated the mixing of concrete in small batches, all of those known to the present applicant have still generally required that the finished concrete be deposited in `a wheel barrow for hand transportation to the desired site, particularly where the finished concrete is to be deposited in an excavation or any other location which cannot be reached directly by the tractor.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved tractor-mounted concrete mixer with which the concrete can be mixed while the tractor is either standing still or in motion, and most particularly which will permit direct depositing of the finished concrete at a distance outwardly from the tractor such as in an excavation, over an obstruction, or even into a truck body. It is, of course, further desirable that such concrete mixing apparatus be relatively simple and be readily attached and detached from a conventional tractor without requiring extensive modication thereof.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an improved tractor-mounted concrete mixer.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved concrete mixing apparatus adapted for `attachment to a tractor and being driven from the power take-oft" thereof, the apparatus permitting depositing of the nished concrete at a distance away from the tractor.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved concrete mixing apparatus adapted for'attachment to a conventional tractor and to be driven from the power i take-oft thereof in which mixing can be accomplished with the tractor either standing still or in motion, and in which the mixing drum may beselectively elevated or ice crete mixing attachment for a tractor of the type having a power take-off, the attachment comprising an elongated frame with means for pivotally connecting one end of the frame to a part of the tractor and means Ifor raising and lowering the frame about its pivotal connection. A concrete mixing drum rotatable about a horizontal axis is provided with means for opening the drum for charging the same and for discharging nished concrete therefrom. Means are provided movably engaging the frame for rotatably Isupporting the drum with other means being provided for moving the frame engagingpmeans along the frame so that the drum is moved away from and toward the tractor, and means are provided for operatively coupling the power take-olf of the tractor to the mixing drum for rotating the same. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the concrete mixing drum is longitudinally split in a horizontal plane to form two sections, the sections being hingedly secured together along respective longitudinal edges so that the drum is opened for charging the same and for discharging finished concrete therefrom and closed for mixing concrete therein. Rotatable means are provided disposed concentrically with the drum and a link is provided connecting the rotatable means and one of the drum sections so that rotation of the rotatable means in one direction causes closing of the drum sections and rotation of the drum in the one direction and rotation of the rotatable means in the opposite direction causes opening of the drum sections, the rotatable means being operatively connected to the power take-off of the tractor.

Further objects and advantages o f my invention -will become apparent by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, and the features of novelty whichrcharacterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specication.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side-elevational view of my improved tractor-mounted concrete mixing apparatus showing several operative positions thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a mixing drum element of my improved apparatus taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top-view of the improved tractor-mounted concrete mixing apparatus of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a rear view, partly broken away, further illustratlng my invention.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing, my improved concrete mixing apparatus, generally identified as 1, is adapted -to be mounted on a conventional farm-type tractor 2, land comprises a frame or boom 3 formed of two transversely spaced elongated rails 4 and 5 interconnected by transverse frame members 6 and 7. Rails 4 and S of frame 3 respectively have their lower ends 8 and 9 pivotally mounted on a shaft 10 (but not rotatable therewith), shaft 10 being journaled in bearings 11 and 12 Irespectively secured to the axle housings'lS and 14 of the tractor 2 in any suitable manner, as by suitable bolts 15. Shaft 10 is arranged to be driven yfrom the conventional power take-off 64 of the tractor by means of a `suitable reversing gear lassembly 16, preferably enclosed within a suitable lhousing 35, shown in dashed lines in Fig. 3; it will be readily understood that any conventional reversing gear arrangement including, if desired, a suitable clutch, may be employed for reversibly driving shaft 10, preferably in geared-down relationship, from the power takeoff of the tractorZ. v

VThe frame 3 is adaptedto be'raised and lowered between a iirst vertical position, shown in solidlines in Fig. l, and a second inclined position, shownlginl'dashed lines in Fig. l, by means of a jack frame 17 comprising elongated transversely spaced apart elements 18 andl19 suitable manner, as by welding.

Within sleeve 56 is .an inner sleeve member 59 having `its Y intereonnectedV by naineelements and 21, as best seen in Pig. 4. Elongated frame elements 18 and 19 are secured at their lower ends 22 to the differential hous- Ving 23 of the tractor 2 in any suitable manner, asl'by bolts 24 and a shaft 25 having a pair of spaced apart sheaves 26 Y and 27 mounted thereonextends transversely across their the Winches 36Y andVV 37 being driven by suitable power means, such as a hydraulicl motor 40. Winches 36 and 537 respectively havefsuitable cables 41 and 42 wound thereon-which pass over thesheaves 26 and 27 and are secured to bushings-43 on shaft 78 extending between the rail members 4 and 5 of the frame 3 at their ends 38. It is thus seen that paying outl of the cables 41 and 42 by l.means of the vwinchesg36 and 37 respectively lowers the frame assembly 3' from its verticalrposition, shown in Vsolid lines, to. its inclined position, shown in dashed lines, in Fig. 1 and conversely, taking up ofthe cables 41AV and 42. by means of the Winches 36 and 37 raises the frame 3 again to its vertical position.

Y VVMounted onthe'rails`4 and v5 of frame V3 for longitudinal Vmovernet-:trutherealong areY a pair of bracket members 44 and 45. Each of the bracket members 44V and 45 has a yfirst pair offr'ollers 46 and aV second'pair of rollers 47 respectively engaging opposite sidesof the respective rail ymembers 4'. and 5, the pairs ofk rollers 46 and 47. respectively retaining the bracket members 44 and 45 onY the rail members 4 andS` andpermitting their. longitudinal movement therealong. n v Y VThe concrete mixing drum 4S of my invent-ionis dis'- posedfforV rotation abouta` horizontal axis between extension portions 50` and 51V of the` bracket members 44 and 45. Drum 48, which is generally cylindrical in configuration, is longitudinally split along a horizontal plane,

hingedly connected along respective longitudinal edges, as at 55.V` lt will be seen that the drum section 53 hasY a transverse cross-section which is slightly more than ia semi-circle, while the 4drum section 54'has a cross- V section which is correspondinglyless than a semi-circle.

Mixing'blades 49 areprovided on the interior of drum I 43 in accordance with conventional practice. f.

' e Extending longitudinally across section 53k ofthe 'drum' 48 Vand concentric with therrotational axis thereof is a sleevemember jhaving Vits ends 57 and 58 respectively secu-redY toY the inner end walls of'drum Ysection 53 in any Rotatably journaled end sr93 and 94 Yextending axially beyond the outer sur- VVfaces-of the end' walls of drum section 53 respectively,

Rotatably: journaled within theY inner sleeve 59 is a shaft or axle 60 having its ends 6,1'and; 62` respectively extending beyond the ends 93` and 94 of the inner sleeve 59'. Axleyt` extends transversely between the extension portions 50and51 of the bracket members V44 and`45,

being` respectively secured thereto in any suitable man? ner, as Y*by means of suitable nuts 63.'V It isV thus seenlthat the,V drum' 48- is rotatably supported between extension portions 50 and 51j ofjtheY bracket members44 and 45.

VA suitable sprocket wh'eel65 is mounted on end 9376i fthe inner sleeve 591 and it will herebobserved thatthe sprocketwheel 65 and ,the'finner sleeve 59normally-rotate 'Y independently of* outersleetej and drum 48'on the oner Y han@ and. axle. :60 @n.theothe; hand. A link, 6s iS-'pmarm 69 is secured to the other end v57 of the inner sleeve 59 with an end 70 in longitudinal alignment with end `68 of link 66. Another 'link 71, identical to link 66, is pro.

Y sprocket wheel 77is mounted on shaft 78 extending transversely between ends 3S ofthe rail members 4 and 5. An endless link chain 79 extends over the sprocket wheels 65, 74, 75, 76 and 77,V as shown, and it will thus be seen that driving of the sprocket wheel 74 by shaft 10 from the power take-olf of the tractor2 through gears 1(Y and 17 will rotate sprocket wheel 65. Y

Bracket members 44 and 45 with drum 4S rotatably mounted therebetween are moved longitudinally along rails 4 and 5,V i.e., raised and lowered in a position Yof frame 3 shown in solid' lines in Fig. l, by means of another pair of Winches fandASl mounted on `a transverse support 39'secured to the upper'surface ofthe transmission housing 32 of' tractor 2, and driven -in any suitable manner, as by another hydraulic motor 82. Winches 80 and 81 respectively have Ycables 83 and 84 wound thereon nextending'over sheaves85 and 86 on shaft 78 land being attached to lift members v8'/ and 88 attached respectively to the bracket members 45and'4'4'- vItrwill now be seen that reelingfin ofthe'cabl'es183 and 84 byV means of' the Winches 80 and 8'1drivenfrby'thehydraulicmotor 82 willilift bracket membersl44'landj45 and drum 48 front Vits position shown in solidlnes inFig. `l toan `Yelevated positiornsuch'as that Vshown/indashed lines in Fig. l.

Y It will further beseenA that the 'drive sprocket 74 is capable as at 52, with the two resultingsections 5,3 and 54 being Y n of rotating sprocket'65 by means of the link chain 79 regardless Vol: the longitudinalv position Yofthe bracket members 44 and 45 andthe drumY 4.8 along rail'elements 4 and 5; uHydraulic motors 40 and 82 respectively controlling the Winches 36 and 37 on theone hand and 80 and A'31` on the other hand, maybe suitably connected to the Yhydraulic system' of the'tractor 2 in'any suitable manner, as is wellknown in therart, and respectively VVcontrolled 'by a suitable control lever 90V mounted for easy reach from. the seat` 89of the tractor 2.' Y Y ReferringY now particularly to Fig. Vl, it Awill be seen that when the driving, sprocket 74 is rotated from the 'power take-off of the tractor in the direction to rotate the sprocket 65V clockwise inthe direction shownby the 'arrow 91, links 66 andV 71 ,are movedrin a direction to close the sections 53 and 54J of the mixing drum 48 and thereafter to rotate the drum Y48 in the direction shown by the arrow 91, i.e., clockwise. However, inspection of the portion of Fig. lshown in dashed lines will further reveal that rotation of the sprocket wheel 65 in the opposite direction, i.e., in the direction vshown by the arrow 92, will cause the sprocket wheel 65 and link66 on theV one hand and crank arm Y69 and link 71 on the other hand to Yopen the two mixing drurnv sections53 and 54, as shown, either to discharge fullymixedV concrete, as shown in Fig; 1, or depending upon the point at VYwhichthe counterclockwise rotation 92'is.initiated, for Vcharging the mixingV It will be. Vunderstood that the Vgearratios of reversing gear 16 andV sprocket wheelsr74 and 65 must be suitably chosen to rotate drum-48 at a suitably slow speedfpreferably, .under 85 r.p.m.v 'Arcalibrated depth fgauge 73 is preferabiyprovided lon one end wall of lower drum section 5,3;in`forder to aid in proper charging ofthe drum, for various sizecl'batchesand mixes of concrete. It willnowbe seen that the'bracket members 44 and .45,tog'etherwith mixing 48,;rnay be raised` and lowered on rails 4 and 5 of` pivotal frame 3 bylneansxof Winches andflandcables 83'and 84 regardless ofv the pivotal position of the frame 3 and with the drum 48 in motion. It will thus be seen that with the boom-frame 3 in its vertical position, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, with the bracket members 44 and 45 in their lower position as likewise shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, counterclockwise rotation of sprocket wheel 65 (direction 92) will cause opening of the two drum sections 53 and 54 for initial charging of the drum with aggregate and concrete, and thereafter that clockwise rotation (direction 91) of the sprocket wheel 65 will cause closing of the drum sections 53 and 54 and mixing of the concrete. It will further be seen that thereafter bracket members 44 and 45 and drum 48, while the same is being rotated by means of the link chain 79 in the clockwise direction 91, may be elevated by means of cables 83 and 84 under the influence of Winches 80 and 81, the tractor moved to a different site, the boom-frame 3 lowered into the position shown in dashed lines in Fig. l, and the direction of rotation of sprocket wheel 65 then reversed to the counterclockwise direction (92) thereby to open the drum sections 53 and 54 as shown to discharge the finished concrete into an excavation, over an obstacle, such as a wall, or even into a truck body.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art and I desire that it be understood therefore that this invention is not limited to the specific form shown, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A concrete mixing attachment for a tractor having a power take-off, said attachment comprising: an elongated frame; means for pivotally connecting one end of said frame to a part of said tractor; means for raising and lowering said frame about said pivotal connection; a concrete mixing drum rotatable about a horizontal axis; means for opening said drum for charging the same and for discharging nished concrete therefrom; means movably attached to said frame for rotatably supporting said drum; means for moving said movably attached means along said frame whereby said drum is moved away from and toward said tractor; and means for operatively coupling said power take-off to said drum for rotating the same.

2. A concrete mixing attachment for a tractor having a power take-off, said attachment comprising: a frame having two spaced parallel elongated rail elements; means for pivotally connecting one end of each of said raill elements to a part of said tractor; means for raising and lowering said frame about said pivotal connections between a iirst substantially vertical position and a second position extending outwardly away from said tractor; a concrete mixing drum rotatable about a horizontal axis; means for opening said drum for charging the same and for discharging nished concrete therefrom; a pair of bracket elements respectively mounted on said rails for longitudinal movement therealong, said bracket elements rotatably supporting said drum therebetween; means operatively connected to said bracket elements for moving the same along said rails whereby said drum is moved away from and toward said tractor; and means for operatively coupling said power take-otf to said drum for rotating the same.

3. A concrete mixing attachment for a tractor having a power take-off, said attachment comprising: a frame having two spaced parallel elongated rail elements; means for pivotally connecting one end of each of vsaid rail elements to a part of said tractor; means for raising and lowering said frame about said pivotal connections between a rst substantially vertical position and a second position extending outwardly away from said tractor; a concrete mixing drum rotatable about a horizontal axis; means for opening said drum for charging the same and for discharging finished concrete therefrom; a pair of bracket elements respectively mounted on said rails for longitudinal movement therealong, said bracket elements' rotatably supporting said drum therebetween; means operatively connected to said bracket elements for moving the same along said rails whereby said drum is moved away from and toward said tractor; Wheel means operatively connected to said drum forcausing rotation of the same; a pair of wheel means mounted on one.' of said bracket elements; wheel means mounted on the other end of the respective rail element; a driving wheel mounted on said one end of the respective rail element coaxial with said pivotal connection and adapted to be operatively connected to the power take-off of said tractor; and endless drive belt means engaging said wheels for causing rotation of said drum in any position of the same along said rails.

4. A concrete mixing attachment for a tractor having a power take-otf, said attachment comprising: a irst frame having two spaced parallel elongated rail elements; means for pivotally connecting one end of each of said rail elements to a part of said tractor; a second elongated frame adapted to have one end thereof xedly secured to a part of'said tractor forwardly of said iirst frame, said second frame having rst sheave means mounted at its other end, rst winch means including cable means passing over said first sheave means and secured to said iirst frame adjacent the other ends of said rail elements whereby said irst frame is raised and lowered about said pivotal connections between a first substantially vertical position and a second position extending outwardly away from said tractor; a concrete mixing drum rotatable about a horizontal axis; means for opening said drum for charging 'the same and for discharging nished concrete therefrom; a pair of bracket elements; each of said bracket elements having rollers mounted thereon and engaging opposite sides of a respective rail whereby said bracket elements are movable longitudinally along said rails', said bracket elements rotatably supporting said drum therebetween outwardly from said rails; second sheave means mounted on said first frame adjacent the other ends of said rails; second winch means including'cable means passing over said second sheave means and secured to at least one of said bracket elements for moving the same longitudinally along said rails whereby said drum is moved away from and toward said tractor; a first wheel operatively connected to said drum for causing rotation of the same; second and third idler wheels mounted on one of said bracket elements; a fourth wheel mounted on said other end ofthe respective rail element; a driving wheel` mounted on said one end of the respective rail element;

coaxial with said pivotal connection and adapted to be operatively connected to the power take-01T of said trac-` tor; and endless drive belt means engaging said wheels for causing rotation of said drum in any position thereof' along said rails.

5. A concrete mixing attachment for a tractor having a power take-off, said attachment comprising: an elongated frame; means for pivotally connecting one end of said frame to a part of said tractor; means for raising and lowering said frame about said pivotal connection; a concrete mixing drum rotatable about a horizontal axis, said drum being longitudinally split in a horizontal plane to form two sections, said two sections being hingedly secured together along respective longitudinal edges whereby said drum is opened for charging the same and for discharging iinished concrete therefrom and closed for mixing concrete therein; means movably engaging said frame for rotatably supporting said drum; means for moving said frame engaging means along said frame whereby said drum is moved away from and toward'said tractor; rotatable means disposed concentrically with said drum; a link lconnecting said rotatable means and one of said drum sections whereby rotation of said rotatable means in one direction causes closing of said drum section and rotation of said drum in one direction and rotation of said rotatable means in the opposite direction causes 7Y n opening of 'said'drum sections; and meansfoi'f operatively connectingisaid' power Ytake-olf to said rotatable means.

6: A concrete attachment for a tractor" having Y Y form Vtwo sections, said two sections being hingedlyv secured together along respective 'longitudinal edges whereby said drumis opened forcharging the same and for discharging inishedconcrete;V therefrom Yandclosed1 for concrete therein; ione; ofsaid drumsections Vhaving a cross-'section greater than a semiscirclerand'the other h avinga cross-section correspondingly less than a semif circle; a-pair of spaced apart bracket elements respectively movably lengaging said frame; axle means Yextending between said bracket elements'and rotatably supportingl said one drum section thereof concentrically of said drum when said drum sections are closed; means for moving said bracket elements -alongsaid frame whereby said drum is moved away fromgand towardsaid trac-Y tor; rotatable means mounted on said'axle means; on one side of said drum and rotatable with'respect tosaid axle means; a Ylink connecting ,said other drum section and said rotatable means `at a point .thereon spaced from jsaid` axle means whereby rotation of saidY rotatable means in onev direction causes closing of said drum section and Vrotation of said drum in said onel'direction and rotation of Ysaid rotatable means in the opposite direction causes *openingr of said drum sections; rand means forfoperatively connecting said power take-.ott to'said'rotatable means.

7. A'concretemixing attachment for a tractor having Va'rfpower;'take-oit, said attachment comprising: an elon- KV234:0,77'39 Y axis, saiddru'm being' longitudinally Vsplit in a horizontal plane to form two sections; said two sections `being hingedly secured' together along respectiveV longitudinal edges whereby said druinV is opened forrchargin'g the( same andfor discharging finished `concrete` therefrom 'and closed for mixing concrete thereing'one of'said drum sections having a`cross-'section greaterV than a' semi-circle'and the other having'a cross-section correspondinglyless than a. semicirclea first sleeve extending longitudinally across said one drum 'section and respectively/.secured to the opposite ends 'diei-ebt',"said first sleeve beingconcentric with Y the axis'of said drum when said sections 'are closed; a

gated frame; means for pivotally connecting one end of said frame 'to a part ofsaid tractor; means foi-raising second sleeve journaled within said first sleeve `and extending respectively axially'beyolidV saiddrurri ends; van axle journaled lin said Ysecond sleeve' and extending Vrespectively v,axially `.beyond the ends ofV said secondv sleeve, fa` pair of spaced apart bracket elementsrespectively"movablyengaging said frame, said axle.extending"between V-said bracket"elements` with itsendsY respectively secured thereto whereby said drumY is rotatably supported between said 'bracket elements: means for. moving saidV bracket elements along said 'frame whereby'said drum isrnoved away from and toward said -tr'actoia `wheel concentricallyV secured to one end'of said second sleeve; a first link connecting a pointY on oneend of :said "other drum section torapointn 4said wheeiiremotetrom the 4axis thereof; a*crank'havingrone'endlsecured to` the'other end ofsaid second4 sleeve: and "having its"A other end in longitudinal alignmentt-withsa'idpoint onfsaid wheel; Yasecond link connectingajpoint on the` otherend of said other Ydrum section tottthe other end of said crank,` Vsaidfpoints'on sajd'; endsiof` said'gotherdr'um sectionbe'mg in longitudinal a1igx1meriti`andV meansgf'or operatively connecting said povsleritalie-off tofsaid wheel for rotating-the' same whereby' rotation xofsaid .wheelinz one direction causes isaid links to close saiddru'm sections'land torotate said n Y :drum insai'd onedir'ectionf 'and rotation "of" saidY wheel rin and lowering said frame about said pivotalconnection; a n

Yconcrete mixingdrum rotatable about a horizontal axis,

said drum' being longitudinally split ina horizontal plane to form two sections, said ,two sections` being hingedly secured together Y along respective longitudinal edges whereby Vsaid'drurn is opened for charging. the same and for discharging finished concrete-therefrom and closed Y for mixing concrete therein; one olfY said drum sections having a cross-section greater than asemi-circle and the other having a cross-section correspondingly less than a semi-circle; a pair of spaced apart bracket'elements respectively movably engaging said frame; axle means extending between said bracket elements and rotatably supporting said one drum section thereon concentrically of said drum when said drum sectionsare closed; means for moving said bracket elements along said frame where- Y by said drum is moved away fromV and toward said tractor; rotatable means mounted onk said axle means on one side of said drum` and rotatable with respect to said axle means; a link connecting said other drum section and said rotatable means at a'point thereon spaced from Y l said axle means whereby rotation of said rotatable means in one direction causes closing of said drum section and rotation of said drum in said one direction and rotation Vol? said irotatable means inthe opposite direction causes opening of saiddrum sections; crank means mounted on said axle means on the other side of? said drum and rotatable with respect to said ax1emeans, said crankmeans being connectedr to said rotatable means and beingfrotatable therewith, anotherlinlty connecting isaid other Vdrum section and saidcr/anls` meansrandi means foi-'rotatably connecting sajd'powertake-olf to said rotatable'pmeans.

8. A concrete mixing attachment'or aY-tr-actor having a`V 'power take-olf;- said' attachment comprising: i an-v elonf gated frame; means for pivotally connectingoneendlovf said frame to 1a part of said tractor; meansfor raising and'rlowering said Vframe about saidV pivotal connection; a concrete mXDg-drum rotatable aboutahorizontal the opposite direction' causesfsaid links' to open said Ydrum section; i. 'f'.

Y 9; .A concrete mixing attachmentffor a 'tractor having a powerv take-off, saidattachment comprising: a `first frame having two spaced parallel elongated rail elements; means for pivotally connecting one 4end of each of said rail elements to a pant Vofsaid tractorg'a secondV elongated frame -adaptedto have one end thereof xedly secured to a part of said tractor forwardly of's'aid iirstframe, said second "framehavingirst sheave means mounted at its other'end; iirlst winch means including cable means passling' over' saidfrst sheave means andisecured to said lirst frame adjacent the other e'nds'of said' rail 'elements whereby said first frame isV raised and lowered about said pivotal connections betweenl a rstsubstantially vertical position andra second position extending outwardly away from said tractor; a concrete mixing' drumV rotatable about'a horizontal -axisgisaid drum-being longitudinally split yin -a horizontal plane to form: two sections, said twoj sections ybeingV hingedly securedl together along respective longitudinal edges whereby said drum a is opened, for charging the same andfor discharging linishedA concrete therefromandclosedvforkrmixing concrete therein; one of said drum'sections having a cross-section' greater than a semicircle andj the other having aj cross-section Vcorrespondingly less than a semi-circle; a rst sleeve extendingV longitudinally Vlacrosssaidsone drumv section. and Vre-` spectively secured tothe opposite ends thereof, saidrst sleeve being concentric with thefaxistof the drum when said Asection isclosed; a second` sleeve journaled within said first sleeve and extending respectively axially beyond said Y drum Vend; anaxle VjournaledVv in` said second sleeve randoextendingl :respectively axially;l beyondVV the Yends of said second sleevea. pair ot spaced apart Abracket-elements,eachrV of szrxid'bracliet.` elements having rollers mounted thereon engaging oppositesides" of aresp'ective 1 9 said bracket elements Wtih its ends respectively secured thereto whereby said drum is rotatably supported be tween said bracket elements outwardly from said rails; second sheave means mounted on said rst frame adjacent the other ends of said rails; second winch means including cable means passing over said second sheave means and secured to at least one of said bracket elements for moving the same longitudinally along said raiis whereby said drum is moved away from and toward said tractor; a wheel concentn'cally secured to one end of said second sleeve; a first link connecting a point on one end of said other drum section to a point on said wheel adjacent the outer periphery thereof; a crank having one end secured to the other end of said second sleeve and having its other end in longitudinal alignment with said point on said wheel; a second link connecting a point on the other end of said other drum section to the other end of said crank, said points on said ends of said other drum section being in longitudinal alignment; second and third idler wheels mounted on one of said bracket elements, a fourth wheel mounted on said other end of the respective rail element; a driving wheel mounted on said one end of the respective rail element coaxial with said pivotal connection and adapted to be operatively connected to the power take-oit of said tractor; and endless drive belt means engaging said wheels for causing rotation of said rst wheel in any position of said bracket members along said rails, rotation of said first wheel in one direction causing said links to close said drum sections and to rotate said drum in said one direction, rotation of said irst wheel in the opposite direction causing said links to open said drum sections.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 624,200 Fisher May 2, 1899 864,451 Davis Aug. 27, 1907 1,154,383 Cowan Sept. 21, 1915 2,706,623 Styes Apr. 19, 1955 2,815,195 Bolt Dec. 3, 1957 

